Landing gear for trailers and the like



May 21, 1946. A, MO 2,400,552

' LANDING GEAR FOR TRAILERS AND THE LIKE Filed se t le, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 1 m4 AMORRIS f" INVENTOR. f;

. A TTORNEV May 21, 1946. A. MORRIS I LANDING GEAR FOR TRAILERS AND THELIKE Filed Sept. 19, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IRA A. MORRIS INVENTOR y f ATTORNEV Patented May 21, 194% LANDING GEAR FOR TRAILERS AND THE LIKE IraA. Morris, Fort Worth, Tex. Application September 19, 1944, Serial No.554,827

Claims.

This invention relates to landing gears for trailers, or the like, ofthe type operating on two wheels and adapted for connection to atractor, and its primary object resides in the provision of aretractible landing gear capable of being extended and retracted by asimple screw assembly by which the supporting legs are collapsiblyfolded so that the complete supporting structure can be compactlyarranged beneath the trailer in transit.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a landinggear having a liberal bearing surface at the ground surface and affordmeans for preventing the vehicle from being mired in soft earth wherethe rollers provided are not sufficient in bearing surface to properlysupport the load.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision of acompact though sturdy structure suitably supporting the vehicle underany load on any type of ground surface where the trailer can beemployed. 1

An important object of the invention resides in the provision of a crashlanding assembly which is incorporated into the invention and which isdesigned to prevent serious injury to the equipment or load and preventpublic damage along public highways, and the like, in the event thetrailer, to which the invention is applied, becomes disconnected fromthe tractor in transit.

Broadly, the invention seeks to comprehend the provision of a landinggear which can be readily secured to any type of two wheel trailer andwhich may be easily operated by one person to lower or raise the samethus affording an arrangement by which the heaviest trailers can behandled with a minimum of effort, as well as to provide a safety crashfeature to prevent serious injury to the trailer and load in the eventthe same should become detached from the tractor.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects willbecome manifest as the description proceeds taken in connection with theappended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of the invention shoWnattached toa trailer which is fragmentarily shown.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary illustration of the hinged joint of one of thecollapsible legs, showing portions cut away to illustrate the manner inwhich the threaded block is supported in the joint.

Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the invention in retractedposition and shown attached .toa trailer frame.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional illustration of the screwassembly by which the collapsible legs are operated, and

Figure 5-is a fragmentary view of one end of the roller and shoeassembly taken on lines 5-5 of Figure l.

The invention consists primarily, of a pair of parallel frame members iwhich are of suitable dimensions to insure the proper strength anddurability and spaced to conform to the longitudinalframe members 2 ofthe trailer to which the invention is applied. Cross members 3 properlybrace the frame structure.

A pair of legs 4 are pivotally connected to a transversely arranged rodor pipe 5 pivotally supported at each end at a in each of'the framemembers I, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Thus the legs 4 will inclineforwardly of the frame, as well as break inwardly, as the screw assembly6 is operated to retract the gear. A pair of stops, or gussets l arerigidly attached to the cross member 5 to prevent the legs 4 frombreaking outwardly at the hinged joint 8 and, by reason of their rigidconnection with the pivoting member 5, the gussets l are always inalinernent with the upper sections of the legs 4.

Rearwardly of the invention is arranged another pivoted cross memberconsisting of a rod or pipe 9 which is journaled at each end at b ineach of the frame members I and to which is rigidly attached a frame ll!which normally, in operation, inclines downwardly and forwardly of theassembly, as in Figure 1, and has a pivotal connection with a shoe llarranged transversely of the frame. A pair of rollers I2 are arranged ona hollow i3, at each end of the shoe H in a manner illustrated in Figure5.

The lower forward end of the frame Ill is pivotally connected at eachend of the shoe H by an integral plate l4 through the medium of boltsI5. In Figure 5 is shown, in dotted lines, the manner of operationofthis arrangement illustrating the positions of the shoe H, the frame l0and plates 14 when the gear is extended and retracted, the dotted linesindicating the position of the parts when the gear is retracted. In thisview is also shown the operative and inoperative positions of the legs 4which are pivotally connected, at their lowermost ends, to the shaft 13by straps I6, preferably welded to each side of the shaft l3, throughwhich bolts I? are arranged and extend through ferrules l3 welded orotherwise attached to the lower ends of the legs 4..

The upper ends of the legs 4 are'likewise pivotally connected to thecross member 5 and a of the legs 6.

similar arrangement of straps l9 and bolts are provided to affordproper. fiexibiilty.

Figure 1 shows the legs 4 in rigid upright position supporting thetrailer 2! fragmentarily illustrated. The legs d are thus fullyextended, the

'gussets' l retaining them in upright position on each side of thestructure while-the screw 22 of the screw assembly 5 supports theminside-the structure. A crank (not shown) is arranged upon the operativeend of the screw 22, shown in detail in Figure 4, and the latter isrotated to cause the interiorly threaded block 23 to move along thescrew 22 urging the legs apart.

The block 23 is arranged in the hinged joint 24, shown in detail inFigure 2, while another block 25- is similarly arranged in the oppositejoint 25- although the block 25 is not interiorly threaded V but actsonly as a bearing for the operated end 2' lof the screw 22, asillustrated in Figure 4, which at this point is in the form of a shaft.A thrust bearing 2% is'arranged on each side of the block 25.

The preferred form of the hinged joints 24 and 26 of the legs 4 is shownin Figure 2 and comprises a pairof straps '23 arranged on and preferablywelded to each side of the upper sections of each ofthe legs 3 andextending downwardly where their apertured lower ends are pivotallyconnected by cap screws 3% to similar straps 3i integral with the upperends of the lower sections It is desirable to provide ferrules 32 forthe cap screws or bolts 36 to prevent bindi ing of the joint whenthe'latter are tightened.

The inner, ends of the screws are threaded into each side of theinterior-1y threaded block 23 and serve to horizontally pivot the legs 4at the joints 24 and 26, and although the block 25 is not interiorlythreaded, this member is similarly supported in the joint 2'6, as shownin Figure l.

The ferrules 39, as will become apparent by reference to Figure 2,extend through both of the .1 straps 29 and 3i on each side'of the legassembly and'into the bloclr fi', and thus provide bearings i for thejoints andinsure" free movement thereof although the bolts (marethreaded tightly into the block 23, the latter operating in a horizontalfrom the tractor in transit, much of the shock can be absorbed andthus'minimize the injury to the equipment and load. Integral with theforward ends of theframe members], therefore, are substantially verticalstandards each having an arcuately formed'shoe 47 integrally at-f tachedto its lowermost end. The arcuate shoes g 41 conform to the contour ofthe rollers l2 and are adapted'to rest thereon, as in Figure 3, when thetraileris in transit. Thes'eshoes also serve to brake the rollers 5.2 ina crash landing and stop the trailer. The shoes H also, when in theposition shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, provide a means for d ginginto the roadway to deter a Additional the movement of the freedtrailer.

A braces 48 are provided which are also integral plane at all times andin alignment with the screw 22. A washer 33 is also provided on each ofthe 1 bolts 36 to afford further bearings. r

The bearings 28 are retained in position on'the shaft2l on each side ofthe block 25' by a split threaded upon the opposite end of the bushin 4|on the opposite side of the block. 23 and extends outwardlyconcentrically around the screw 22 and.

protects the same from dirt and grit' An ex ;tensible tubular housing 43is slidably arranged over the outer end of the tube- 42, as shown in iFigure 3, and is retained by a spring at arranged upon the tube 62 toretract the housing was the screw 22' is withdrawn in lowering the gear.

In order to prevent serious injury tothe trailer and its load, a crashlanding device is provided which is designed to strengthen'the gear sothat if the trailer, for some reason, becomes detached safety meanscomprising brakes .for' the said with the shoes 61 and with the tips ofthe membersfl.

Manifestly certain changes and modifications may be resorted to fromtime to time without de-' parting from the spirit and intent of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims. A

What is claimed is: a I. In a landing gear for trailers, and the like;in combination with aframe structure having a pair of parallel membersadapted for rigidattachrnent to a frame of a trailer, a pair of legmembers having pivotal connection with the said each comprising rigidlyattached members hinged sections and having mechanical means thereon forlowering and retraction with respect to the ground surface, a pair ofrollers and a ground engaging shoe separating the said rollersoperatively arranged .in the said pivotally connected frame structureand brake members engageable with the said rollers cooperating with thesaid shoe to retard thetrailer in' a crash landing.

2. In a landing gear for trailers, and the like, a Y pair of parallelmembers adapted for ecurement to a trailer frame, a retracting framestructure including a pair of hinged legs pivotally sus pended from thesaid parallel members and a horizontal variable shoe extending betweenthe said legs providing a supporting surface on the ground" for the saidtrailer, a pair of rollers spaced by the said shoe and having theirground engaging surfaces on a slightl lower plane than the plane of thesaid shoe, means comprising a screw assembly attached to the said legsfor retracting and lowering the said landingxgear and brake members'engageable Withthe saidrollers to retard the said trailer i a, crashlanding;

3. In a landing gear for trailers, and the like,ja

retractingv frame structure having a pair 10f hinged legs having rollersthereon adapted to be brought into contact with the ground when the 7saidframe structure is lowered, a pair of parallel rigid memberspivotally supporting the said frame structure and rigidly attached tothe said trailer,

roller providing for a crash landing of the said trailers and a screwassembly for raising and lowering the said frame structure by exerting aforoeinwardly 0r outwardly on the said legs' 4; In a landing, gear. fortrailers, in combination with a pivotally connected frame structurevhaving a pair of parallel members for rigidattachment' to: 'a trailerframe, 'hinged collapsible standards forming parts of thesaidfram'e-stru'cture and having rollers-operatively arranged "on theirlower ends, a screw assembly providing,

means'for extending the said standards and retaining the same rigid forsupporting the said" trailer, and means comprising brake members n- Vgaging the said rollers and a shoe member for retarding the said trailerin a crash landing.

5. In a trailer landing gear, the combination with a frame structurecomprising a pair of parallel members for rigid attachment to a trailerframe and pivotal members connected therewith, retractible supportinglegs for the said trailer formed with hinged joints intermediate theirends and a screw assembly operatively arranged through the said hingedjoints for exerting a force against the said legs in opposite directionsto extend the same and provide a support for the said trailer an axlehaving wheels thereon rigidly secured to the lowermost ends of the saidlegs, the said axle having a shoe along its entire length for engagingthe ground in an emergency and brake members engaging the said wheels inretracted position,

6. In a landing gear for trailers, the combination which comprises apair of parallel frame members rigidly attached to a trailer frame, apair of collapsible supporting legs pivotally attached to the said framemembers and capable of being extended and retracted beneath the saidtrailer, a pair of rollers having a variable shoe arranged therebetweenand capable of engaging the ground, a brake member engageable with eachof the rollers in retracted position and a screw mechanism effecting theextension and retraction of the said supporting legs.

IRA A. MORRIS.

